Participation in Kuvan Kevät MFA exhibition
Instructions for participating in the Kuvan kevät Master Exhibition. Master's students can sign up for the exhibition via separate form in October and November.
Kuvan Kevät – MFA exhibition present annually artworks of students who are finalizing their master’s degree in a big group exhibition. Participants consist from all study areas: painting, scuplture, print making and time and space. The exhibition takes place in Kuva/tila exhibitions spaces and White studio, but also other venues in Mylly -building, such as Kaiku-gallery, Majakka and roof terrace.
Exhibition staff
Many people of the Fine Art’s Academy faculty are working the exhibition: annyally selected lecturer responsible for the architecture of the exhibition, as well as exhibition services faculty and press personnel. During 2024 exhibition responsible lecturer for the architecture is Tuomo Rainio. Marja-Kristiina Mäkinen will work as the Producer and technical production will be lead by exhibition Main Technician Olli Karttunen with the help of department technicians and other technical staff. Stella Sironen work as the team’s Press Officer and Graphic Designer and Photographer Petri Summanen takes care of the visual design of the exhibition. A Production Intern will also assist with production assigments and event during the spring.
Signing up for the exhibition and period of participation
You can only participate to Kuvan kevät on second year of the master studies or on the 5th year of BFA-MFA studies. Schedule of participating must always be agreed with the professor of your study area and period of participation confirmed by the end of previous semester. Signing up for the exhibition is made via separate form in October-november. Signing up will be informed via e-mail as well.
Terms and restrictions of participating to Kuvan Kevät
The academic council has decided to restrict participation to Kuvan Kevät in their meeting on 6th March 2018.
Starting from spring 2019 eligible to participate to Kuvan Kevät are only second year master students and those 5,5 -year degree students, who have their BFA degree done by the end previous semester by the latest. On professor’s agreement the participation can be moved up. If the student participates earlier the BFA degree needs to be accepted by the end of the previous semester.
Postponing participation is possible only if the student has been absent for legally valid reasons (i.e. in military or civilian service or on maternity, paternity or parent leave), for prolonged periods because of illness and/or when preparing specifically for the exhibition, or for other reasons for the duration of a whole academic year.
Policy applies to those second year master students who have began their studies 1.1.2018 or later and to those 5,5,-year degree students who have begun their studies 1.8.2016 or later. If a two year master programme student who has begun their studies before this wishes to participate to Kuvan kevät they need to do so by spring 2019 the latest. For those 5,5, year degree students who have begun their studies before 2016 participation is taken to account from BFA graduation so that, those who have graduated by the end of the year, have right to participate to Kuvan kevät by spring 2019 the latest. Same applies to those who have graduated as BFA before 2017, they too can’t participate to Kuvan Kevät anymore after spring 2019.
Participating to Kuvan Kevät is voluntary and public presentation of thesis artistic works can also take place else where and other way.
Other public presentation and Kuvan Kevät
Students can also choose a public presentation other than Kuvan Kevät as part of their thesis. The public presentation of thesis should take place either before, or in the same spring semester as the Kuvan Kevät would take place (according to their study path).
If the student chooses a public presentation elsewhere than the Academy of Fine Arts’s own exhibition premises, it is not possible for the student to use production or technical services or equipment of the Academy of Fine Arts for the exhibition.
If a student chooses to make a public presentation that is not Kuvan Kevät, they are still entitled to participate in the Kuvan Kevät. Students receive then equal support for the Kuvan Kevät work than other participants of the exhibition.
Thesis grant
Academy of Fine Arts’ supports master’s thesis via grant to cover costs arising from creating your thesis artwork. You cannot use the thesis grant to cover general living expenses. Student has a right to the grant after returning thesis plan and acccepted by the professor. Master’s thesis grants will be applied in Nov-December, the applying will be informed via e-mail to those who have returned their thesis plans. After applying the grant will be paid to student’s account by the end of the year.
Exhibition participation process
Participate in joint meetings
For the participants of Kuvan Kevät there’s two meetings, one after the registration has closed in November and second in January. Prepare to tell in short about your upcoming artwork(s) in the second meet.
Book a studio visit to discuss your plans
Book a studio visit with lecturer of the exhibition and prepare to discuss your preliminary project plans with the lecturer. Booking link will be separately.
Participating in the exhibition requires studio visits with the lecturer of the exhibition.
Work on your project
…and keep in touch with your supervisors. If you make changes in your plans be in contact with the lecturer of the exhibition. If you’re working on a larger peace or installation, that requires technique and equipment’s also contact the Exhibition Technician Olli Karttunen early on.
Submit text and images for catalogue
In mid February, submit the text for the Kuvan Kevät catalogue and in early March artwork images. You’ll receive further instructions closer to the date. Because of the different faces of the catalogue process (proofreading, translating, cross-check, layout) the deadline is already in February. The text and images will also be online at the exhibition’s website at kuvankevat.fi. You will see the proofread and translated texts before publishing. Kuvan Kevät graphic look of is designed by Petri Summanen.
Kuvan Kevät -portraits
In addition, we will arrange a portrait session for the Kuvan Kevät participants to put on the website. You will receive a separate link to book your time. You will also get the image for yourself.
Second studio visit
The lecturer of the exhibition will be doing second studio visits in the beginning of January. Based on these visits the lecturer will be designing the exhibition architecture. Kuvan Kevät will take place in the Academy of Fine Arts in Mylly-building.
Submit artwork infos
Artwork info’s will be in lists and signs at the exhibition spaces. In the invigilators folder there are separate lists with artwork prices. Infos are submitted via Surveypal before opening, during installation. You are in charge of sending the updated info’s to the Producer in time.
Exhibition installation
You will receive more a detailed schedule and installation instructions closer to the start of the installation. You are in charge of the realisation and installation of your work, and if need be, you will have the technical staff to help you. Regarding content-wise questions turn to your instructor, the professors of the study areas and/or lecturer of the exhibition. If you have technical problems, please discuss them with the Exhibition Technician.
During the exhibition
The opening of Kuvan Kevät 2024 is Friday 3.5.2023.
The exhibition is open 4.5.-2.6.2024, Tue-Sun 11am to 6pm. The invigilating shifts will be distributed between the participants, each will have 2–3 shifts to invigilate. The shifts will be booked via separate form and sent to you closer to the exhibition.
Remember to invite your examiners to see your artwork at the show.
During the exhibition, on Monday 13th May there will be a KK24 -seminar, mandatory to all participants, where you will get feedback of your work from Professors of the Study area’s and professionals they’ve invited as their guests.
If you’re planning on arranging performances and other events during the exhibition, be in contact with the responsible lecturer and producer. If events are outside the exhibition opening hours, they need to be agreed separately with the facility services 4 weeks in advance.
The Academy of Fine Arts documents all its’ shows only for communication and teaching needs. If you want to document your own art work, do it before the end of the exhibition. Please note that the written component of the thesis project must include sufficient visual documentation of the artistic component. A camera set will be organized for you to loan to document your work. The equipment can’t be taken out school premises and the files must be moved to your own device immeadiately, so other students may use the camera set as well.
De-installation
You are responsible for the de-installing, packing and removing of your own artwork according to the given schedule. Remember to take with you all the materials that you will need and restore the exhibition space as it was when you started the installation. More precise de-installation schedule will be sent to you closer to the end of the exhibition.